Mo Farah & Galen Rupp’s Stability Routine

In response to posting a recent video of Alberto Salazar describing his philosophy on strength and stability training for runners some readers have asked for more specific details about the exercises shown, including sets and reps.

As you can imagine, much of the detail in terms of what goes on within Salazar’s Oregon Project, stays within The Oregon Project!

After a little bit of searching around, I managed to come across an article by physical therapist David McHenry, head strength and conditioning coach for the Oregon Project. Within the article, he shares the example routine described below, with videos, sets and reps for each exercise.

McHenry describes how he puts athletes such as Mo Farah and Galen Rupp through three sessions per week, particularly focusing on the all important core and hip regions.

The Oregon Project Stability Routine

Hot Salsa

Step into a wide lunge and reach a weighted ball as far out in front of you toward the ground as you can. Keep the back as straight as possible. Shift your weight forward on your front foot. While keeping the ball forward, lift your back leg off the ground and rise up to a perfect running position. Ritzenhein deserves credit for naming this exercise because he says it makes your butt sore the next morning.

Perform 10 total lunges, 5 on each side.

Runner Pulls

Balance on one leg and grab a pulley system or elastic band in front of you with the opposite hand. Raise the free knee up toward your waist while simultaneously pulling the weight down 90-degrees and rotating toward your opposite leg. These should only be undertaken after the you have mastered the previous drills, as any lingering hip or core weakness or control deficiency will reinforce the wrong movements here.

15 times on each side.

Side Plank Knee to Chest

Begin in a side plank. Let your shins rest on a BOSU ball and balance on the ground using your lower arm. Keeping your body level to the ground, drive your top knee toward your chest while moving your upper arm back in a running motion. If your left elbow is on the ground, your right knee will move forward in a “high knee” position and the right arm will swing behind parallel to the ground. The motion recruits the core, scapular stabilizers and muscles down the leg. Repeat on the opposite side.

If you are doing a static hold, work up to 45 seconds each. If knee drive or hip dip knee drive, work up to 12 on each side.

Reverse Clamshell

These may feel like they’re the same as the clamshell, but they control the hip in a different way. Whereas the clamshell opens on the front side of the body, this exercise opens on the backside. Lie on one side with your knees bent and your lower legs behind you at a 90-degree angle. While keeping your knees together, lift your top foot away from the bottom foot as high as you can, hold it for a two-count and then bring it back down slowly. The target muscle is the deep internal hip rotators.

Perform 1-2 sets of 15-20 repetitions each.

The Clamshell

Lie on your back and bend your knees to 90 degrees, keeping your feet on the ground. Then hold that position and roll onto your side. Keeping your feet together and your femurs slightly in front of the midline of your body, lift the top knee away from the bottom knee using the glutes to drive the action. The upper foot will turn down to “stand” on the other foot and the motion will engage the external hip rotators.

Perform 1-2 sets of 15-20 repetitions each.

Mountain Climbers

Drop to a plank position with your forearms on a medium-sized stability ball. Keeping your core tight, bring a knee to the ball. Try to keep the ball and torso as steady as possible. Alternate knees to the ball throughout the exercise. The movements integrate every muscle used during a stride.

Perform 20-30 total.

The Runner Touch

Strike a pose in perfect running position with one leg in high knee position. Balancing on the one leg, bend at the hip and touch the toe that’s on the ground with the opposite hand while the leg in the air rotates under and back. Make sure the standing leg remains stable and as straight as possible while enabling you to touch the ground. Be sure to prevent the moving knee from crossing midline while that leg straightens out behind you. Come back up to running position quickly without losing balance, pause for a second or two, and repeat. Switch legs and repeat.

Perform 1-2 sets of 8-10 repetitions each.

The Jane Fonda

Lie on your side and place your bottom hand behind your head. Put your top hand on your upper hip pressing your pelvis forward to make sure it does not rotate back during the exercise. Use your core muscles to stay steady. Keeping the top leg straight, lift it up and then back using your glutes to lift the leg. By keeping the outside of your foot level to the ground, you should feel the fatigue in your gluteus medius.

James has an academic background in Sport Rehabilitation and a special interest in Applied Biomechanics. He currently coaches a large number of Runners and Triathletes across all levels of ability and performance. He's grown a strong reputation for enabling athletes to improve their running performance and overcome running injuries through improving their Running Technique and developing Running Specific Strength.

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11 Comments

great post. Would like to see a couple more of those in a standing position- perhaps Jane Fonda switch to a standing hip abduction, hip extension. Maybe clam shell into a monster walk. I’m guessing lying down can help with postural control and get the muscles isolated more? (Isolation used in the loosest sense of course!)

I completely agree. I was surprised to see so many floor-based exercises. While I do believe there’s a place for such non-functional exercises, I’d use them as a precursor to the important run-specific weight bearing exercises.

I’m a run coach just wanted ideas of how to incorporate into periodization of training? Also I regress some of these exercises for clients I have a few runners who would struggle at this level of exercises.

Just a look back in time, re.The Jane Fonda exercise, The Clamshell and its various forms. Many moons ago my ex-girlfriend was an aerobics teacher and for me to take part was frowned upon by the other guys in the gym. So there i would be, the only guy, doing all sorts of routines not so unfamiliar to the ones seen in the selection above, only to find out some 25+years later, WOW !!! the runners are doing this stuff now. Back then i was more into other sports and even had my girlfriend take aerobics classes at my karate club at King’s College on Fridays as part of the 1st hour of training. They loved it !!!!
Had i continued with those routines, when i switched to been a runner, i guess wouldn’t be where i am now, at Kinetic Revolution. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but no regrets, we are here and time to go forward.
Just thought i’d share that with you and dare i say, many of us oldies will look back at the exercise videos and say… CRIKEY !!! i used to do those all the time.
Its a great insight on the ‘pro athlete’ workout routine and very interesting.
Nice one KINETIC REVOLUTION, for sharing this.
Floor work initially to get the deep hip muscles fired up and then the next step to standing seems like the way to go.

I really struggle with lunges but loved the more dynamic hot salsa version. Thank you for sharing these James. The beauty of floor work is that I can do these in a small space such as my lounge or office.